You read it here second! Thanks to Chris Mason at Green 960 for the original heads-up and email. It looks like Randi Rhodes has resurfaced at... Premiere!
Here's the press release:
PREMIERE RADIO NETWORKS SYNDICATES THE RANDI RHODES SHOW
LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2009 – Premiere Radio Networks is proud to announce that beginning May 11, The Randi Rhodes Show will join its lineup of nationally syndicated radio programs. Airing weekdays from 3-6pm ET, Rhodes will enlighten and entertain listeners with her trademark candid, incisive opinions, as well as her biting sense of humor, as she discusses everything from news and current events, to politics and hot topics. "The Randi Rhodes Show" will broadcast live from Washington, D.C., and will be heard on more than 25 affiliates including KTLK-AM/Los Angeles, Green 960 Online and Radio/San Francisco and KPOJ-AM/Portland.
“Right now, America needs a voice that reflects its hopes and concerns. It will be my privilege and pleasure to provide vital information to the public about everything that is possible in the 21st century, and also have a few laughs along the way,” commented Rhodes. “Premiere is an incredible family of radio pros, and is truly the most talented and experienced radio syndicator in the nation. I’m exited about this decision and Premiere’s enthusiasm for this partnership. It’s truly a dream come true.”
Premiere Radio EVP of Affiliate Marketing Julie Talbott stated, “Randi has carved a niche in Talk radio with her straight-forward approach, intelligence, wit and fact-driven content - qualities that attract audiences. We can’t wait to deliver The Randi Rhodes Show to stations nationwide.”
A Brooklyn native and former U.S. Air Force aircraft mechanic, Rhodes began her career in radio at a Country music station in Seminole, Texas. She enjoyed stints in Mobile, Alabama, as well as New York’s WAPP-FM, Milwaukee’s WQFM and West Palm Beach’s WJNO-AM. In 1992, she landed at Miami’s WIOD-AM, where she took over the station’s 8 -11 p.m. In 2004, Air America Radio began nationally syndicating her program, and she later joined Nova M Radio’s lineup in 2008. In addition, Rhodes starred in the HBO documentary Left of the Dial, and was named “Woman of the Year” by Talkers Magazine in 2007. timeslot and was ranked #1 in the market.
UPDATES: R&R sez:
At KKGN, which has been a Rhodes affiliate through each incarnation and its eventual implosion, PD John Scott says, "It's my guess the Premiere version of the Rhodes show will be the most polished, most supported, most highly produced version of that show in her career. These folks at Premiere don't mess around. It will be a pleasure to hear her content delivered by true professionals. Progressive radio and online content deserves a seat at the table. When we do it right, the people show up."
Talking of her return to national syndication, Rhodes says, "Right now, America needs a voice that reflects its hopes and concerns. It will be my privilege and pleasure to provide vital information to the public about everything that is possible in the 21st century and also have a few laughs along the way."
And a few more notes:
Wanna read more?
The Wall Street Journal
Brad Blog
BlatherWatch
The ministers of misinformation, Bozell's Bozos (Warning: This site may kill brain cells)
Eureka, CA 
23 comments:
Thanks for letting me know and keeping Randi fans updated. That is the best news I've heard in a long time. Welcome back Randi!
Some people may have to take back all the nasty things they've said about Clear Channel.
That said, why would a station want to pick up a show when the host has a track record of disappearing?
She'll be broadcasting from DC, but will DC be able to hear her?
Randi hasn't been on in the Washington, DC market since Jan 2 2008, when she was replaced by (GROSS!) Glenn Beck.
3wt doesn't count because they put her on a very weak 4kw stick more than an hour outside the city that couldn't be picked up, and had no stream of her show. What a bunch of losers, no wonder they got booted last summer.
It looks like Christmas came early this year. Randi has the most dynamic voice for progressive politics on radio today. If this wasn't the case, then why has her voice been kept off the air for so long? Rumblin' Randi just tells it like it is. And while her message may be a little tough at times, it's the truth. She offers the strong medicine we need after eight long years of the criminally insane Bush mob. Randi will carry forward the torch of truth and justice like she always did. She will once again light the way through the wilderness. Welcome back, Randi, Radio Warrior!
What great news for us fans of LTR!!! However, much has changed since she was away and the task ahead of her is great. According to what I have read on this blog and in the general media, the number of available outlets for LTR peaked in "06. On the one hand, there is a downward trend in available progressive stations and 25 stations is so small, when one considers where she was just 3-4 years ago on AAR but on the other hand, Premiere is by far the most stable and professional syndicator that Randi has been affiliated with, so if anything, this could help spark a rebirth for the entire LTR genre. This news along with the higher profile that LTR personalities are getting on MSNBC leaves me extremely hopeful for the future.
I hope this means she'll be heard on XM again. Clear Channel runs several talk channels on XM and there is plenty of space for her, the 3-6 spot on 165 is a replay of Glenn Beck right now.
Randi wasn't completely bumped from the DC market when 1500/107.7 dropped her for Beck, the Frederick side (AM-820) of "3WT" continued to carry her until 3WT was scrapped altogether in summer 2008 for WFED. Since then I listened to her on XM until her latest radio leave. Now I'm hoping she reappears somewhere since XM-167 carries Thom Hartman from 3 to 6. I can't really blame XM for doing this since it was a big question when, if what, was going to happen to Randi.
Like someone said maybe CC itself can replace one of the dozen Beck replays on XM with her live show (heaven forbid!) ? Or currently XM-154 and XM-173 are open for whatever CC wants to carry, they use to be Nat'l Lampoon Radio and a WLW simulcast until CC removed them. Currently those dial spots just simulcast 2 other CC XM talkers awaiting new programming. I think XM-167 is out of the question since we now have Hartman followed by Mark Thompson and The Young Turk(s) from 6 to 10 PM.
To all you STUPID KKKon child molesting turds (sorry to be redundant) who said RANDI AM BE IS DONE FOR...well screw you hard!!!!!
I got my Randi shirt on and fuku if ya don't like it!
Now just so long as Sirius gets her back...
http://Lu666Cifer.blogspot.com
Sorry Randi, but I don't know if I care anymore about you.
From Emacee: ...why would a station want to pick up a show when the host has a track record of disappearing?The facts are that Randi didn't "disappear." 1) She was booted from Air America when she made an off-air comment about Hillary Clinton during the primaries when the AAR owners were Hillary supporters. 2) She stopped broadcasting on Nova-M because they failed to pay her liability insurance as per her contract. Anyone who knows that she was sued by CACI knows why she won't broadcast without insurance (for the record, she won the lawsuit). Nova-M and Premier are not in the same league. Your analysis is inaccurate at best.
She may wind up on some primarily conservative stations, if Premiere can push her show to them; stations in small, medium, or large markets. They indeed are powerful. These days stations want to save money by airing syndie (in this case, a push for a "localism" rule by the FCC could hurt her, actually--if stations are forced to put more local shows on, that's one less possible slot for her)
In many places like Boston it's been tough getting an all progtalk station on air. Wedging one PT show on a bigger station (would WRKO take a shot? even tape delayed to 10 pm or something?) might work, even if most of their hosts lean right.
Or she could just wind up on a puny station whose night signal goes nowhere.
Upon what actual fact, exactly, was Randi's claim to be the "number one liberal talker" based? What evidence is there that at any time she was the top liberal talk show host?
I haven't been able to find anything substantiating that claim (which used to be prominently displayed on her site's home page, I believe), but there's tons of info showing that NOT to be the case (i.e. rankings showing at least one other liberal talker with higher ratings and/or ranking than she has).
Randi should tell the truth, and not make herself out to be something she's not, like the righties do.
Skyline said:
From Emacee: ...why would a station want to pick up a show when the host has a track record of disappearing?The facts are that Randi didn't "disappear." 1) She was booted from Air America when she made an off-air comment about Hillary Clinton during the primaries when the AAR owners were Hillary supporters. 2) She stopped broadcasting on Nova-M because they failed to pay her liability insurance as per her contract. Anyone who knows that she was sued by CACI knows why she won't broadcast without insurance (for the record, she won the lawsuit). Nova-M and Premier are not in the same league.
Actually, the contract with AAR expired. Regardless of the rumors you've heard and the he said/she said from both ends, that was essentially what happened. She was not fired. She was renegotiating, and in the end, wouldn't accept their offered terms (more money, but a non-compete clause and AAR ownership of her show). The Hillary thing was just a ruse. The real reason she was 'suspended' was because she would have been working on-air during that perior without a contract.
Other than that, the Nova M reasoning you brought up makes sense. I had never heard the whole story, but kinda lost interest after a while of seeing a ton of back-and-forth accusations (many of which found its way into my inbox).
As for Premiere (owned by Clear Channel, BTW), Randi will be happy there. That's who she wanted to go with in the first place (pre-AAR). But Premiere wouldn't syndicate her (rumor has it Limbaugh would not allow Premiere to do liberal talk, but don't quote me on that). Otherwise, it's a good move on behalf of both parties. Since Clear Channel does still own a few progtalkers, it's an easy add.
Your analysis is inaccurate at best.Okay, I agree with you there.
Hey tmode93--A clarification on Randi in the DC market. I did note in my post that 3wt put her on a very weak signal, the Frederick station you mentioned, which is a good hour outside DC (and Baltimore).
Thing is, it wasn't possible to hear her unless you were within pretty close proximity to Frederick, which, I have to disagree, is NOT part of the DC market.
In addition, 3wt (and 820-AM, the "sister" station in Frederick) NEVER streamed her show once they bumped her for Beck.
On a couple of occasions, Randi did talk about the hypocrisy (my term) of situations like the one 1500/820 put her in--saying they're airing her show in a big market but relegating her to a weak stick outside the listening area, not streaming her show, and then saying she wasn't attracting much of an audience or getting good ratings.
A little piece of trivia: Randi's show has never aired lived in full in Washington, DC!
That said, I'm really excited to hear Randi will be back soon. And I really hope she'll be back in DC on a station we ALL can hear!!
Thnx.
This is good news! I'm going batty having to listen to Ron Kuby every day.
This SUCKS kuby is soooo much better now KKZN, KYNS, and KMNY will drop kuby. aL i'm surprised you didn't like Ron he's GREAT
From LTR: "... She was renegotiating, and in the end, wouldn't accept their offered terms (more money, but a non-compete clause and AAR ownership of her show). The Hillary thing was just a ruse. The real reason she was 'suspended' was because she would have been working on-air during that perior without a contract."
Technically you are correct, but the "ruse" was used to break the impasse and give AAR an easy out. It was no secret that Mark Greene was steamed about the comment considering who he was backing http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Mark_Green.php I was responding to the "disappearing" comment in shorthand. Thanks for the clarification.
Hey LTR, or anybody really, is Randi gonna be on Sirius and/or ANYWHERE in FloriDUH?!
http://Lu666Cifer.blogspot.com
@ Lu Cifer:
I seriously (siriusly?) doubt Randi will be on Sirius, Premiere is owned by Clear Channel and they are involved with XM. There haven't been and there won't be any Premiere shows on Sirius anytime soon. I used to have Sirius and got fed up with their so-called liberal talk station that when the merger happened I switched to XM with the Best of Sirius package and I like it a lot better. With XM you get the entire Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz shows live, and best of all, no Lynn Samuels in sight! That moron Alex Bennett is on the channel, but he's on at midnight so he's easy to avoid.
Anyways, Clear Channel runs several talk channels on XM: 152, 154, 158, 165 and 173. I'm sure they will put Randi on one of them.
Sirius and XM are virtually the same thing nowadays.
As for Rhodes on either, I haven't the foggiest idea.
I will, however, eventually post an entry listing all of her new affiliates, airtimes and listening links if available. As for listening live, KTLK would likely be the best bet (KKGN will probably delay her and I'm not sure about KPOJ). More stations will be added very soon.
@ltr,
Music channel wise, Sirius and XM are virtually identical, but their talk channels are still quite different. Take a look at the schedules for America Left and Sirius Left, or Sirius Patriot and America Right and there are some big differences. Plus, Clear Channel has an exclusive contract with XM that goes way back. Clear Channel programming will not show up on Sirius anytime soon. I've heard it's because Mel Karmazin hates them with a passion, but I don't know for sure. XM has some big names in talk radio because of their relationship with CC, like Coast to Coast AM and Glenn Beck.
Dear Fighting Irish:
If I posted that the sun rose this morning, you'd want to dispute it. OK the sun doesn't really rise. The Earth rotates. But from our perspective it rises.
From the perspective of a station owner, Randi disappeared. Now you hear her, now you don't. The time slot was filled and suddenly it wasn't. Competing explanations came later. Who was a fault either time. You pays your money and you takes your choice.
Admittedly, Randi's show in the hands of an established syndicator may reassure PDs that the show will be fed today and fed tomorrow.
You can disagree all you want but my reading of Randi's track record doesn't make her out to be somebody who can be counted on to keep her word (of course, she always has good reasons for not keeping her word which is a problem common to liberals).
Dear Emacee/FSL/Fred Flintstone/Julius Marx/etc.:
Hey, you're the one who comes here and craps all over everything I write. And posts personal attacks directed at various people who comment here, not to mention yours truly. Nevermind. I can take it.
And unlike you, I never threatened to sue you. So stop your whining and victim-playing. If you're so keen on dishing it out (as you seem quite fond of doing), then don't go crying to mommy when someone challenges you.
Rhodes' previous departures could probably have been handled better, but in the case of Nova M, she didn't have a whole heck of a lot of choice. She would have been out of work a week later when Nova M went kaput. As for why she didn't just remain on WJNO in the interim (i.e. now), I don't know. Believe it or not, I don't have all the answers. And I'm not afraid to admit that.
of course, she always has good reasons for not keeping her word which is a problem common to liberalsStill painting people into tiny boxes, huh? That's a problem common with simple-minded assholes. Like you.
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